Tohru thought through her conversation with Shigure on her way to work that day. She was pretty sure that Shigure loved Akito very much but hated his actions with equal fervor. I wonder how Hatori would answer my question. The thought came unbidden but it lingered in her mind. She had already stepped out of her usual mode of action so what would one more uncharacteristic action matter. Mom, I really do want Akito to find out how wonderful life is.
Tohru went through the day at work with a smile for everyone. She had quickly become a favorite with the Sohma relations and Hatori found that a lot of the younger men just hung around for a glimpse of Tohru and her lovely smile. Often he would have to send them back home or on various errands just so the patients could come and go. It was still much easier on him to have an assistant who worked as hard as Tohru, and still had a smile at the end of the day than it had been during the time he had been working alone at his practice. He just had not had the heart to hire anyone new after Kana.
Akito would sometimes watch the activity around Hatori's clinic from his room and find himself smiling ever so slightly, but only when he felt no one else was watching. Sonomi-san would come and go, but was beneath Akito's notice so she would occasionally catch a glimpse of that smile. It gave her hope for the future of her Sohma masters. Miss Tohru Honda was the best thing that had ever happened to the cursed Sohmas.
Momiji's was another common face around Hatori's clinic. Considering the fact that he lived in Hatori's upstairs bedroom, it wasn't really surprising. Often when he arrived home from school he would chat with the female patients in the waiting room and was a crowd favorite. In a way, hiring Tohru had given Hatori two receptionists in his clinic. When she was filing records, Momiji often manned the phone and arranged follow up appointments as needed. Hatori knew that the real attraction for Momiji was Tohru's presence. The young rabbit had developed a quick and instantaneous liking for her as had most of the other Sohma Juunishi. Kisa and Hiro also stopped by frequently on their way home from school. Some days it was quite crowded in his small clinic. Hatori found himself enjoying the company and recapturing the joy he had once had in life when Kana had been his. It was hard not to be happy when Tohru brought joy with her as naturally as a storm cloud brought rain.
The day finally came to a close and the last patient had been seen. Momiji was upstairs in his room studying with Hatsuharu and Kisa and Hiro had gone home hours before. Tohru knocked softly on Hatori's door. "Hatori-san, I've brought you some tea and some leek stew for supper."
"Please come in Tohru-san. You know you didn't have to go to the trouble."
"I know I didn't but I wanted to," she replied with a smile. "Uhmmm…Hatori-san may I ask you a question."
"Of course."
"I talked to Shigure earlier today and got one answer. I just need to know if you see things in the same way or not. I was thinking that I would really like Akito-san to find out how wonderful life truly is, but I don't know enough about him. Hatori-san, what is it Akito likes to do and is there anything he really likes that will make him smile, just a little."
"Tohru-san, you are a very kind person, but I'm not sure even you can convince Akito that just being alive is a reason for joy. He spends most of his days in his room brooding and watching the comings and goings of all those who live here in the Sohma compound. He rarely goes out and when he does it is not for very long. His attendance at your graduation was an unusual occurrence as were the times he showed up at your school. When he is not watching over the compound, he can be found in his sitting room either reading or studying. I truly don't remember a single time when he has had fun just because he is alive."
"That's so sad, Hatori-san. Life is important, too important to be sad or angry all the time. I am going to do my best to prove to Akito that being alive is a good thing. I wish Mom were here. I think Akito would listen to her. She had a special way of telling people to stop feeling sorry for themselves and learn to live."
"I am quite sure that your mother did have a special way about her Tohru-san. She raised a very special daughter."
"Thank you Hatori-san. I am going home now. I promised Shigure I would be there in time to fix the evening meal. See you tomorrow!"
"Be safe Tohru-san."
Hatori watched the young woman leave for home and then allowed himself to consider his feelings. Tohru and Kyo had both lost some special memories of Kyoko-san and each other because of his technique. Perhaps the worst sin of all was when Akito had forced him to erase Kureno's memories of Kyoko and the way in which Akito had forced him (Kureno) to arrange for her death. If Hatori were ever to testify in a court of law, he, Akito, and Kureno could all be imprisoned for murder. Granted they did not officially commit the crime, but Kureno had contracted it under Akito's orders and Hatori had been a witness to the conspiracy.
So many memories he had stolen, would there ever be absolution for him? If only he could erase his own memories. Sometimes he thought that would be bliss. He had always followed the rules and been intensely loyal to both his father and to Akito in their roles as Sohma head of family. He had never before questioned their orders but now he would give much for Kyo and Tohru to regain their memories as Kyoko-san had regained hers. That is, if hers had ever been taken. He wasn't really sure on that point. He knew that Sakura Alexander had been very resistant to his technique as well and her memories had never been erased though he had been ordered to, twice.
Sakura Alexander…she had said she loved him before she left on her final assignment. Was it possible, that she was still alive just unable to come home? This was what Tohru believed and her optimism was contagious. Hatori found himself hoping and believing that all would be well in the end. To his surprise, he could smile peacefully as he prepared for the next day's appointments.
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